English – Page 34 – Canadian CED Network

The Toronto Enterprise Fund (TEF) has announced the launch of its 2017 Business Plan Competition. The competition is open to new non-profit social enterprises that provide transitional or permanent employment for people who are marginalized. A social enterprise is a business operated by a non-profit that sells goods and services in the market place, for the dual purpose of generating income and achieving a social, cultural or environmental goal. TEF always requires the submission of a comprehensive business plan; you can get started with your planning by visiting the “Thinking about Starting a Social Enterprise” and “Starting a Social Enterprise” pages.

This year, the deadline for submissions to the Competition is October 6, 2017. The first place winner can receive up to $75,000 in seed funding. A total of $155,000 is available for the winners.

To enter the competition, your organization or group must be starting a non-profit social enterprise, attend all the workshops (see content and dates below), create a feasibility study (by June 23) and finally submit a comprehensive business plan prior to the Oct 6 deadline. For more details on eligibility, please read through the eligibility criteria of the Business Plan Competition. If you plan to submit a business plan to the competition, please register for the workshops below.

Please note that in the future, TEF will not run a Business Plan Competition, but will have a different process for funding new social enterprises.

2017 TEF Business Planning Workshops

The workshops will be held at the United Way Office – 26 Wellington East, 12th Floor, Boardroom A.

Introduction to Social Enterprise – Tuesday, May 2nd 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Feasibility and Market Research – Friday, May 19th 9:30am to 12:30pm
Social Programming Design – Friday, June 9th 9:30am to 12:30pm
Financial Planning for Social Enterprise – Friday, June 26th 9:30am to 12:30pm

Register for the TEF Business Planning Workshop Series

If you require additional information, please check the website or contact
Anne at (416) 777-1444 ext. 513 or ajamieson at uwgt.org or
Litza at (416) 777-1444 ext. 235 or lchatzibas at uwgt.org.

SOURCE: The Toronto Enterprise Fund

Leading up to the first full budget by the new provincial government, there was a significant amount of apprehension among community groups around austerity and potential spending cuts. With 15,000 children waiting for child care, 7,500 housing units needed to respond to homelessness in Winnipeg alone, and 132,000 Manitobans living in poverty, it would have been harmful to balance the budget on the backs of vulnerable Manitobans.

However, Budget 2017 is a mixed bag, with more program reductions than investments in CCEDNet-Manitoba’s member priorities, but more programs maintained than some had expected.

For instance, we are glad to see the government increase funding for Rent Assist and maintain funding for the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative while also giving a prominent role to social enterprise. However, cuts to community development, co-operative development and affordable housing, along with a stall on a comprehensive poverty reduction plan, will work against supporting inclusive communities and economies in Manitoba.

See Budget 2017 here.

As the provincial government continues to define its course, it will take some work on the part of community organizations, social enterprises and cooperatives to find their role in the path forward. The following analysis covers areas of provincial policy important to the work of CCEDNet Manitoba members. To see our submission to the Budget 2017 consultation process, visit here.

Community Development

Programs under Community Planning and Development in Indigenous and Municipal Relations have seen a significant reorganization, but some consistency in amounts. Funding for Neighbourhoods Alive! (NA!) will be maintained at the same spending level as the previous year but the Province underspent last year as a result of pausing NA! programs mid-year. Therefore, the NA! budget has been reduced by approximately $900,000 (or 15%), from $5.97 M in Budget 2016/17 to $5.08 M in 2017/18. In speaking to a government representative, we learned that the department is establishing new program delivery processes, and anticipates further consultation with non-profit organizations. There is no stated commitment to existing multi-year funding agreements, and organizations funded under these programs should reach out to their department contacts for further information.

Included in the reorganization is the elimination of the Urban Development Initiative and Rural Economic Development Initiative. We learned that this funding has not been cut, but permanently allocated to departments with initiatives funded via these programs. Those departments now have discretion over their allocation. Funding initiatives through IMR have been collapsed into a new program called Community Development Initiatives. Intake and funding criteria for this fund have not been announced at this time.

Co-op Development

Cooperatives are hard hit in this budget, with the cancellation of the Co-op Community Strategy, and the elimination of the Co-op Development Tax Credit. While elements of the strategy are being maintained, accounting for $70,000 in spending, total spending on Co-op Development has gone from $601,000 to $456,000, which is a decrease of $145,000 or 24%. We hope that despite these changes, we will see a new way forward for cooperatives in Manitoba and will be asking the government to consider how they can support these inclusive, democratic community enterprises.

Social Enterprise

CCEDNet Manitoba called on the Province to grow its social procurement commitments to $10M (currently at $7M). Social enterprise was specifically highlighted in the Budget Paper “REDUCING POVERTY AND PROMOTING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT”. In a section titled Front-Line Services Through Innovative Partnerships, this Budget Paper celebrates Manitoba Housing’s practice of social procurement, highlighting the five social enterprises that are providing services to Manitoba Housing (New Directions – Genesis, NECRC – Building Construction Mentorship Program, BNRC – Brandon Energy Efficiency Program, BUILD and Manitoba Green Retrofit) and the collective 220 jobs this provides for individuals facing barriers to employment. It also notes the training partnership with social enterprise Diversity Foods. We are glad to see this prominent mention of these CCEDNet Manitoba members. However, it is unclear if the government is planning to change the amount of procurement currently going to social enterprise, or expand the practice beyond Manitoba Housing.

Despite mentioning the significant social return on investment generated by the social enterprise strategy, it is also unclear if the government is planning to continue funding the sector-developing strategy in partnership with CCEDNet Manitoba.

One policy priority for CCEDNet Manitoba is to see the Justice department reverse its trend towards greater incarceration through prevention and reintegration by engaging social enterprises that support individuals involved with, or at-risk of involvement, with the criminal justice system. The Justice department’s operating budget has increased 2.1% (or by $12.2M), from $586.5M in 2016/17 to $598.7M in 2017/18 — these increases can be partially offset by more programming for prevention and reintegration to keep individuals out of the criminal justice system. The Community Safety budget, which includes funding for correctional services as well as crime prevention policies and programs has increased from $410.6 M to $420.5 M. However, there is no mention of social enterprise as a tool for crime prevention and reintegration.

Social Finance

The Budget reiterates the government’s commitment to launching a “made-in-Manitoba approach to Social Impact Bonds,” (SIBs) however it is not clear if there is any budget allocation for the development of SIBs, nor the fields they are planning to execute SIBs in.

The Neighbourhoods Alive! Tax Credit has been cancelled. While this program, which provided a 45% tax credit to corporations who donated $50,000 or more to a non-profit organization to establish a social enterprise, needed improvements (it had only been used once since its inception), CCEDNet Manitoba members still see potential in the opportunity to partner with corporations for social enterprise development.

The Community Enterprise Development Tax Credit is being maintained. We will continue to advocate that the Government of Manitoba improve the application process for this tax credit and better promote it to the community.

Northern Healthy Foods Initiative

CCEDNet called on the Manitoba government to increase funding to the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative (NHFI) to scale up healthy food production and consumption, in part through social enterprise, in northern and remote communities. Funding for the NHFI has been maintained at $1.2M for 2017/18. While we are happy to see NFHI funding maintained, this amount continues to be insufficient to address the challenges and costs of food insecurity in remote and northern communities. For instance, the economic burden of diabetes in Manitoba in 2010 was estimated to be approximately $86M in direct costs and an additional $412 M in indirect costs. Investments in healthy food is an important component in addressing this cost and we hope to see additional programs and investments to address this issue.

It is not clear at this time how much, if any, of NHFI’s funding will be earmarked for social enterprise development, or if there is any other funding specific to social enterprise development in northern and rural Manitoba.

Minimum Wage

For a second year in a row, the Manitoba government has not increased the minimum wage. It continues to sit at $11.00 per hour since last increased in October 2015 meaning that those working for minimum wage will continue to see their incomes fall behind what is needed to afford the cost of living. This continues to break the 17-year trend of regular minimum wage increases despite full-time minimum wage work still failing to bring Manitoba families above the poverty line.

Childcare

The Early Learning and Child Care budget increased by just over $6M in Budget 2017. The Province promises funding for 501 new licensed child care spaces and 50 new home-based spaces to help shorten child care wait times. It also promises to increase operating grants for home-based child-care providers. While childcare advocates welcome this small increase, it does not go far enough to meet the needs of more than 14,500 children who are on the online child care registry waitlist. This disproportionately affects women, as they are more often prevented from education and employment opportunities due to a lack of accessible child care.

Visit the Manitoba Child Care Association for more information.

Poverty Reduction Strategy

Make Poverty History Manitoba was anticipating the launch of a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy in Budget 2017 based on last year’s budget which noted that work would begin immediately on the development of such a strategy in preparation for Budget 2017. However, the budget now notes that the updated strategy is not expected to be launched until late 2017. Make Poverty History Manitoba has called for a comprehensive plan developed in partnership with the community and accompanied by targets and timelines for reducing poverty. Budget 2017 notes that the development of the provincial strategy will include an engagement process to identify the priorities of Manitobans. It also notes that the province will develop targeted performance indicators.

Make Poverty History Manitoba prioritized the need to increase the basic needs budget for Manitobans on EIA and transition to a portable benefit, like Rent Assist, to make the benefit available to the working poor. The goal was to bring all Manitobans to at least 75% of the poverty line in Budget 2017. The budget does not make any reference to increasing EIA rates.

Visit Make Poverty History Manitoba for more information.

Housing

Right to Housing called on the Province to commit to 300 new social housing units built by the public, non-profit and co-op sectors to help address the need for affordable housing. However, Budget 2017 does not set a target and timeline for building new social housing. Budget 2017 provides up to $149M for capital (new supply and maintaining existing supply). This is down from $280M in 2016, and it is roughly a third of what was available on an annual basis when the Province was investing in a capital program that delivered 1,500 units between 2009 and 2014. This reduction in the amount available for capital combined with a $20M dollar reduction for operations leaves Manitoba Housing with approximately $150M less for its social and affordable housing programs than what was in last year’s budget.

Budget 2017 continues to invest in Rent Assist, a program that provides an income benefit (up to 75% of median market rent) to low-income Manitobans to top up their rent. Its budget line was increased, in part to be able to index the benefit to keep up with rising rental costs. But the benefit itself will not be enhanced.

Visit Right to Housing for more information.

Accessibility for Manitobans

All parties passed The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) in 2013 to achieve the comprehensive prevention and removal of barriers. The Conservative party committed to the full and timely implementation of the AMA during the 2016 provincial election. The AMA establishes responsibility for achieving significant progress toward accessibility by 2023, but implementation is lagging. CCEDNet Manitoba called on the Province to invest significantly increased human and related resources to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the AMA. The Disability Issues Office is the government unit most responsible for the implementation of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act and it received a welcome 20.7% increase. However, implementation is an immense responsibility that has been gravely underfunded to date.

Visit Barrier Free Manitoba for more information.

Environmental Omissions

Climate change is a defining issue of our time, imposing high and escalating costs on society over the coming decades and centuries. It requires clear, effective, and decisive action to reduce emissions. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development estimates that every dollar the industrialized world fails to invest in clean energy today will cost more than four dollars down the road. CCEDNet’s membership called on the Manitoba government to implement a carbon pricing strategy as well as ban on organics disposal by 2020.

Unfortunately, climate change does not have a significant role in this budget. There is no mention of carbon pricing or an organics disposal beyond a reiteration of a previous commitment to develop a climate and green plan in the future.

Kirsten Bernas is Research and Policy Manager with CCEDNet in Manitoba. She has also been employed by the Province of Manitoba to work on CED and social policy. Kirsten represents CCEDNet on the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives‘ Alternative Federal Budget Steering Committee, Make Poverty History Manitoba‘s Steering Committee, and the Right to Housing Coalition‘s Provincial Committee. She received a BA (Honours) in Economics from the University of Manitoba as well as an MA from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Darcy Penner has been working in community economic development since graduating from the University of Winnipeg with a BA (Honours) degree in Politics. Starting at CCEDNet in 2013, his role has seen him work with member-organizations to pursue a broad policy agenda through workshops, presentations, budget submissions, policy papers and community-organizing, while specializing in supportive social enterprise policy and research – including being the Project Manager for the Manitoba Social Enterprise Strategy being co-produced with the Province of Manitoba, and coordinating the Manitoba Social Enterprise Sector Survey.

“Climate change is a defining issue of our time, imposing high and escalating costs on society over the coming decades and centuries. It requires clear, effective, and decisive action to reduce emissions. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development estimates that every dollar the industrialized world fails to invest in clean energy today will cost more than four dollars down the road.”

CCEDNet-Manitoba with support from members in the province has made a submission to the Manitoba Climate and Green Plan survey outlining important environmental actions to growing a strong, equitable, and sustainable economy.

Read the full submission to the Manitoba Climate and Green Plan survey

In the submission the following recommendations to the Government of Manitoba were made:

Carbon Pricing

Impose a carbon levy with a floor of $30/tonne based on British Columbia’s successful model, rising to $200 over time.
Complement the carbon tax with a strong set of regulations to reduce emissions from agriculture and transportation.
Establish a carbon tax credit for Manitobans living below the low-income cut-off.
Recycle the remainder of revenues to deploy low-carbon technology and energy systems that make it easier for the public to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

Waste Disposal

a. Announce a deadline of 2020 for a full organics disposal ban in the Manitoba Capital Region.
b. Introduce and enforce a phased fine for any organic material that is landfilled in the Manitoba Capital Region after 2020, with an initial threshold of 25% organic matter landfilled and decreasing to 5% by 2023.
Support the transition to improved organics management by:
1. Offering a financial incentive to approved transfer stations and facilities that compost organic material in the Manitoba Capital Region.
2. Making municipal waste management plans that include the diversion and composting of organic materials mandatory for the Manitoba Capital Region.
3. Creating a provincial waste management plan that builds on the community expertise gathered in earlier government consultations.
4. Implementing policies, funding and social procurement programs to support small businesses, social enterprises, and community initiatives that meet environmental, social and economic goals (i.e. diverting organics from landfills, improving community sustainability resources and providing local training and jobs).

Manitoba Housing

CCEDNet Manitoba recommends that Manitoba Housing provide social enterprises with energy retrofit work as part of accomplishing the goal of $10M in procurement annually.

Efficiency Manitoba

Give Efficiency Manitoba a mandate to partner with social enterprises in green economy initiatives.
Provide targets and timelines for ensuring green economy initiatives create jobs for Manitobans with barriers to employment.

Community-Owned Green Energy

Update the Manitoba Hydro Act to support the creation and maintenance of community-owned renewable energy, including:
1. Implementing a long-term Feed-In-Tariff along with provisions to appoint an independent committee to set an acceptable price.
2. Allowing and directing Manitoba Hydro to purchase power from community-owned renewable energy projects and that these projects be developed in consultation with the communities affected.

Read the full submission to the Manitoba Climate and Green Plan survey

On April 7, MP Ramesh Sangha introduced Bill C-344, a private member’s bill that would authorize the Minister of Public Works to require an explanation of anticipated community benefits when bids are submitted for federal infrastructure projects. Similar legislation (Bill C-227) had previously passed second reading and committee stage in the House, but had to be dropped from consideration when its sponsor, the Hon. Ahmed Hussen, was named to cabinet.

Transcript of the Motion

“Mr. Speaker, I am absolutely honoured to stand in the House, with the support of the member for Don Valley North, to introduce my first private member’s bill, the community benefit act, or CBA, regarding the federal investment in infrastructure.

“The CBA is the modern way of giving power to communities. This will benefit not only my riding of Brampton Centre but ridings across Canada. My bill will define what community benefits are and how government can collaborate with communities to obtain maximum benefits. The CBA will provide for community participation so they can achieve their fair share of the federal government’s spending. The CBA will ensure reliable growth and meaningful employment while fostering a healthier environment.”

More information on Bill C-344

Motion M-100 Adopted in Unanimity by House of Commons The Parliament of Canada has voted unanimously to adopt Motion M-100, sending a clear message and mandate to the Government of Canada. M-100 is a Private Member’s Motion, tabled by Liberal M.P. Alexandra Mendès (Brossard – St-Lambert), to establish a framework that will promote the recognition and development of co-operatives in Canada.

The motion also asks Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) to establish a national co-operative development strategy.

CMC President, Doug Potentier applauded the vote: “This motion is an important step toward building public and government understanding of how co-operatives contribute to economic growth and prosperity in line with the governments own priorities. Energy transition, indigenous and rural community development, emerging digital platforms, homecare, health care and any number of other challenges we face today are ideally suited to co-operative solutions.”

The vote result was 284 yeas and zero nays.

Text of the Motion

That, in the opinion of the House, the government should recognize the important role co-operatives play in the economy and ensure that they continue to thrive by taking concrete steps such as: (a) developing, in consultation with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous communities and the co‑operative sector, a federal co-operative strategy to promote and support Canada’s co-operative sector; and (b) providing periodic progress reports on pre‑established goals and targets.

Background

In 2012, a Special Committee on the Status of Co-operatives, chaired by M.P. Blake Richards, made a series of recommendations. One key recommendation that was accepted and enacted by the government was to move responsibility for co-operatives from its historic home in the Secretariat at Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada to Industry Canada (now ISED). This move better represented the current diversity of businesses that are innovating with the co-operative model and was a step toward equal access to business support programs.

The transfer of responsibility, it was said, would ensure a single focal point in government to facilitate development, innovation and growth in Canada’s co‑operative sector. The government also welcomed the opportunity to engage with co-operatives and to further review their business programming to help support the sector. This was welcome news within the Co-op Sector. Unfortunately, there was no instruction or clarity on how the relationship between the department and the co-operative sector should evolve. Now, four years later, there has been very limited movement on many aspects of the intended relationship.

M-100 is the platform upon which the government can engage with co‑operative and mutual stakeholders. To solve our challenges together using the co-operative model, the Government of Canada needs to promote the co-operative model, contribute to its development, and facilitate an exchange and dialogue with the co-operative sector. Motion M-100 is catalyst to achieving that goal.

SOURCE: Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada

The Board of the Canadian CED Network (CCEDNet) is pleased to announce that Carol Anne Hilton has been named Director for a term ending at the 2018 Annual General Meeting.

Carol Anne Hilton, MBA is the CEO of Transformation International an award winning Social and Economic development company. Carol Anne is a recognized leading First Nation’s business entrepreneur with a Masters Degree in Business Management (MBA) from the University of Hertfordshire, England. Carol Anne is from the Nuu chah nulth Nation on Vancouver Island.

Carol Anne works to incorporate an Aboriginal worldview while bringing First Nations, industry and government together to design new approaches for sustainable, inclusive development. Carol Anne brings project management experience across industries in resource management, governance, and regional development.

Carol Anne is currently authoring ‘Indigenomics – a Global Power Shift’ and has been an instructor at Camosun Business School Leadership Program as well as at Simon Fraser University’s Community Economic Development Program, the University of Winnipeg’s Masters in Community Planning Program and most recently with the Banff Center Indigenous Business Program.

Transformation has been recognized with a BC Aboriginal Outstanding Business Achievement Award, a Creating Wealth Award from the National Indigenous Council of Elders and Business of the Year Award from the Nuu chah nulth Economic Development Corporation. In November 2015, Carol Anne was also recently nominated for work in multi-culturalism by the BC Government.

Carol Anne was recently appointed as an advisor on the Federal Economic Growth Council. Carol Anne currently serves as Director on the Vancouver Island Investment Fund, the World Fisheries Trust, the Victoria Community Micro Lending Society, and is a Director on Community Social Planning Council as well as a past Director of the founding board for the First Nations Health Authority and served for 9 years on Council of Hesquiaht First Nation.

Learn more about Carol Anne and other Board members

Board membership is open to all CCEDNet members, with at-large Director positions elected each year. If you are interested in joining the Board, contact us or watch for the annual call for Board nominations, which is usually sent to members in February.

Check out the latest keynote speakers we have confirmed for Hopeful Economics: Leadership & Innovation Summit. To see the full speakers list visit our website.

Hopeful Economics:Leadership and Innovation Summit, which explores themes of economic reconciliation, social enterprise, entrepreneurship, community benefit agreements and local impact investing, is being co-hosted by Simon Fraser University’s Community Economic Development Programs and the City of Vancouver April 21-22, 2017 in downtown Vancouver.

Register for Inspiring Speakers at Hopeful Economics here

Keynote Speakers

Gulalai Habib has been working with displaced populations for over 25 years. She works with the Immigrant Services Society of B.C., is on the board of directors of the Women’s Economic Council and Common Thread Workers Co-operative. Gulalai will speak on the changes in refugees’ experiences in Canada since 2000, and the pressing need for social innovation and holistic approaches to ensure immigrant and refugee success in Canada.

Charlene Aleck is a granddaughter of Chief Dan George, a mother of four and a grandmother. She’s an elected Councilor for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) and a spokesperson for the TWN Sacred Trust Initiative. Charlene is dedicated to the protection and restoration of the land and water her people have stewarded since time immemorial. Charlene will present the Tsleil-Waututh’s vision for their economic future. TWN does not view economic development separately from social, ecological or spiritual development. TWN is leading the opposition to Kinder Morgan Pipeline on behalf of the members of TWN, Squamish and Cold Water. TWN is also developing several long-term economic projects including restoration of shellfish beds in the Burrard Inlet and TWN Wind Power.

Danielle Levine is CEO of social enterprise Kanuu Indigenous Innovation Society and serves on the board of the Vancouver Native Housing Society. Most recently she ran the Ch’nook Indigenous Business Education program at UBC’s Sauder School of Business where she taught business, coached and inspired Indigenous leaders and entrepreneurs from across Canada. She has also taught business and has been a business advisor at other post secondary institutions and consulting firms in B.C. Danielle’s presentation will outline social enterprise opportunities that have the most potential for large impact in the area of economic empowerment and reconciliation.

Sean Markey is an associate professor with the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University (SFU). He is author and editor of six books and numerous articles, reports related to sustainable community and regional economic development, rural and small town development, and sustainable infrastructure. In addition to his academic roles, Sean teaches with the SFU Community Economic Development Program and serves on the board of directors of the Vancity Community Foundation and the Silva Forest Foundation. Sean’s talk will highlight ecosystem conservation planning efforts in the Still Creek watershed, drawing connections between healthy ecosystems and healthy economies.

city of ottawa

The CIty of Ottawa is seeking project proposals that promote economic development while demonstrating environmental, cultural and/or social benefits.

The Community Economic Development (CED) Funding Program is an annual program that provides financial support to projects that advance: job creation, economic diversity, entrepreneurship and small business development, skills development, innovation, and tourism while also demonstrating environmental, social, and/or cultural benefits.

All applicants must complete the Community Economic Development Funding Program application form for project funding requests.

Request the application form from the CED Program Coordinator by email

Project funding requests could range from $5,000 to a maximum of $50,000. For requests greater than $25,000, a detailed project plan and budget is required as part of the application. The project plan is a summary of the work to be done and details the goals, activities, outcomes, and resources. The plan should be linked to the budget and include timelines for completion. The purchase of goods and services should ensure value for money and must follow ethical and fair procurement practices. Successful applicants must spend the total awarded funding and submit reporting requirements by December 31, 2017.

Projects need to deliver broad, sustainable economic benefits and demonstrate continued benefits after the funding has ended. Additional consideration will be given to projects that advance and foster innovation, promote partnerships, and have other funding sources or in-kind contributions.

The projects/programs must meet the following principal criteria:

Demonstrate how they will positively affect the development of the local economy
Demonstrate the need for assistance and value for money
Demonstrate what environmental, social and/or cultural benefits will likely accrue to the community.

For more information visit ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/funding/economic-development-funding

The Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development is seeking submissions for Volume 10 Issue 2 of its publication.

Published jointly by the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (Cando) and Captus Press, the Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development (JAED) is a peer-reviewed journal for practitioners and scholars working and researching in areas relevant to Aboriginal economic development.

Published yearly, the Journal is a unique resource for anyone interested in Aboriginal community economic development. Its intent is to explore ideas and build knowledge in the field of Aboriginal economic development theory and practice. The journal prefers a broad interpretation of research and knowledge and encourages a wide variety of contributions in this area.

Volume 10, Issue 2 of JAED will be published in fall 2017 in preparation for the Cando 24th Annual National Conference & AGM.

Download the call for papers

Deadline for submissions is May 31, 2017

Papers should relate to one of the following areas:

Aboriginal Community Economic and Enterprise Development
Aboriginal Small Business and Entrepreneurship
The Analysis of the Aboriginal Economy
Sharing and/or Evaluating Current Aboriginal Economic Activity
Aboriginal Corporate Responsibility, Social Auditing, and the Triple Bottom Line
Economic Partnerships and Government Relationships
The Relationship between Indigenous Knowledge and Economic Development
Indigenous Land Management and Economic Development
Aboriginal Organizations and Management
International Aboriginal Trade and the Global Economy
Aboriginal Community Development: The Role of Elders, Women and Youth
Change: Traditional and Modern Aboriginal Economies
A Historical Analysis of Aboriginal Economic Development in Canada
The Role of Research in Aboriginal Community, Economic, and Business Development
Community Wellness and Making Poverty History

Submissions may be forwarded to:

Warren Weir – Editor
c/o Svitlana Konoval
Cando
9635 – 45th Avenue
Edmonton, AB T6E 5Z8
E-mail: skonoval at edo.ca
Phone: 1-800-463-9300 x 231
Fax: (780) 429-7487

Visit the Cando website for more information and to view past issues of the Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development.

Merchants Corner rendering An innovative and exciting educational initiative is underway in Winnipeg’s low-income and largely Indigenous North End. The 100 year old Merchants Hotel—in recent decades a magnet for all manner of violence and criminal activity—is being transformed, along with six adjoining city lots, into 30 units of fully subsidized student housing, three classrooms and a seminar room, and a community café.

Three separate educational programs will share the same space. The University of Winnipeg’s Department of Urban and Inner-City Studies will run university-level courses during the day (students can earn a degree in Urban and Inner-City Studies); CEDA-Pathways to Education, a North End high school support program, will use the same classroom space in the evenings for its after-school tutoring and mentoring program; and the students in the Culinary Arts program at RB Russell, a North End high school, will run the community café—the café will be organized as a social enterprise—gaining hands-on practical experience that will improve the likelihood of their finding employment. All of this will take place in an area of the city where a mere one in four students graduate high school on time.

In the third classroom, community programming will be organized during the day and some evenings and weekends, and a community consultation process is currently underway to determine what kinds of educational/cultural programming residents in the North End community want. The objective is to offer educational/cultural programming that is consistent with the Calls to Action of the Truth and Conciliation Commission Report.

Make a contribution to the Merchants Corner transformation

Elder Stan McKay is coordinating Oji-Cree language programming for pre-school children and their parents and grandparents. The Indigenous youth-driven Meet Me at the Bell Tower will use Merchants Corner on Friday evenings. Many other educational/cultural activities will be offered—depending upon the expressed interests of the community—alongside the three more formal educational programs, creating an educational complex that will be unique in Canada, and that will be transformative in this low-income and largely Indigenous part of Winnipeg.

Capital costs for the total project—in the range of $15 million—have already been raised, coming primarily from the former provincial government, but also from generous contributions made by a wide variety of foundations, corporations and individuals.

A final round of fundraising is now underway. It includes a crowdfunding campaign aimed at raising the money needed to support the community-based educational and cultural programming now being identified, such as the Oji-Cree language programming.

Many thanks for whatever you are able to contribute to this exciting, unique and transformative project.

Make a contribution to the Merchants Corner transformation

Jim Silver is a professor and chair of the Department of Urban and Inner-City Studies at the University of Winnipeg. His research interests are in inner-city, poverty-related, and community development issues. His most recent book is Moving Forward, Giving Back: Transformative Aboriginal Adult Education. Jim is a member of the Manitoba Research Alliance and the leader of the Housing and Neighbourhood Revitalization stream of its SSHRC Partnership project, “Partnering for Change: Community-Based Solutions for Aboriginal and Inner-City Poverty.”

Jim has been very active in the redevelopment of the old Merchants Hotel on Selkirk Avenue into Merchants Corner, which will have 30 units of subsidized housing for students with families, and where Urban & Inner-City Studies will be located, sharing space with the North End high school support program, CEDA/Pathways to Education. Jim was also very active, for 6 or 7 years, in the redevelopment of Lord Selkirk Park and has been actively involved in a number of other community initiatives in Winnipeg’s inner city.

*The opinions expressed in blog posts are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of CCEDNet

Do you have an idea for a business or initiative that will have positive impact in your community?

Come and pitch it to a room full of potential partners at the Hopeful Economics Social Innovation Challenge in Vancouver, April 21 & 22. Hopeful Economics invites pitches that focus on financial sustainability, positive social impact, environmental-benefit, or are spiritually-grounded.

Who can pitch?

The Hopeful Economics Social Innovation Challenge is a great opportunity for start-ups, for social entrepreneurs, for new co-operatives and other innovative initiatives. Participation is limited to attendees of Hopeful Economics: Leadership & Innovation Summit.

Purchase your ticket for the Hopeful Economics Social Innovation Challenge

What does pitching entail?

Stand up and give a short pitch to a panel of judges and a supportive audience and have a chance at winning on of five prize packages including cash, tablets, business coaching and more. Pre-registration is required to participate in the Social Innovation Challenge. Contact for more information or to register.

How about those prizes?

1st Place: $1,500 cash from the United Church of Canada, a Datawind tablet, $1,200 worth of legal templates from Clausehound, $500 value social media course from CanadaHelps.org, business mentoring, Small Business Solver e-learning
2nd Place: $1,000 cash from United Church, a Datawind tablet, business mentoring, Small Business Solver e-learning
3rd Place: $500 cash from the United Church of Canada, a Datawind tablet, business mentoring, Small Business Solver e-learning
People’s Choice: Final cash prize based on proceeds from ticket sales, business mentoring, Small Business Solver e-learning
Quadruple Bottom Line Award: $1,000 cash from Glenco Foundation, business mentoring, Small Business Solver e-learning

What is Hopeful Economics?

Hopeful Economics: Leadership & Innovation Summit brings together municipal staff and leaders of communities both urban and rural, non-profit organizations, social entrepreneurs, private sector partners looking to enhance their community impact goals, community activists and change-makers of all kinds.

The summit features two full days of workshops, speakers, panel discussions and more around the themes of economic reconciliation, social enterprise, entrepreneurship, community benefit agreements and local impact investing.

Hopeful Economics is being co-hosted by the City of Vancouver and Simon Fraser University.

The Social Innovation Challenge is hosted by Social Innovation Canada and the United Church of Canada, with thanks to the following sponsors:

Social Mentor Network
Datawind
Small Business Solver
Edge
Canada Helps
Clausehound